Advertisement
Promo

Online business Toolkit

Morpheus denies security breach

James Pearce ZDNet Australia

Published: 06 Feb 2002 11:22 GMT

  • Email
  • Trackback
  • Clip Link
  • Print friendly
  • Post Comment

StreamCast Networks, the company that created Morpheus, has categorically denied there is a 'dangerous' hole in the software program.

The Morpheus peer-to-peer enabling application is well known as the basis for MusicCity, a file-sharing service that has sprung up in the vacuum created by the demise of Napster.

Rising to recent reports of an alleged security breach, StreamCast stated in an email to ZDNet Australia "there has never been a security breach in Morpheus since its introduction in April 2001".

In its defence, StreamCast claims that only Morpheus users are able to elect which files they want to share with the user network, and putting them into a shared folder renders them accessible to other Morpheus users.

"StreamCast reminds its users to be sure they are not sharing files they want to keep private or files that are copyrighted," the company said in a statement. The implication being that a security breach is merely the result of users making all their folders, and private information, accessible.

The rumours relating to the alleged security breach were first reported by BBC Online, and StreamCast says that the "anonymous" security consultants who reported the supposed flaw haven't contacted the Morpheus crew directly.

To further complicate matters, StreamCast claims several false postings have been made to Web sites about the alleged breach, supposedly on behalf of StreamCast and Morpheus. According to StreamCast, one such posting was purportedly made by Paul Sarsfield, who claimed to be a Morpheus employee.

"StreamCast does not employ any person by that name, nor have any StreamCast employees or company representatives posted any responses to this matter," the company said.

Sarsfield, a 15 year old who edits www.gamerspage.com, denies making the postings and has written a page denying the BBC report, under the title 'idiocy'.

"The way the Morpheus sharing works it is impossible to get into the root - or any directory really unless it is shared because it generates a DB [database] of shared files and bases the index upon that when it lists files," Sarsfield said in e-mail correspondence with ZDNet Australia.


For all security-related news, including updates on the latest viruses, hacking exploits and patches, check out ZDNet UK's Viruses and Hacking News Section.

Have your say instantly, and see what others have said. Go to the Security forum.

Let the editors know what you think in the Mailroom.

  • Email
  • Trackback
  • Clip Link
  • Print friendlyPrint with EPSON

Did you find this article useful?
45 out of 69 people found this useful


Full Talkback thread

0 comments

Company/Topic Alerts

Create a new alert from the list below:








Sentry Posts Blog

McKinnon lawyers seek judicial review

Lawyers seeking a judicial review for Nasa hacker Gary McKinnon lodged fresh evidence of his psychiatric state at the High Court on Thursday. Karen Todner, McKinnon's solicitor,... More

1 comment

Beware of keeping your head in the clo...

Information security professionals can look forward to a deepening appreciation for their skills as security continues to be recognised as an essential element for doing business in... More

1 comment

Civil liberties groups attack file-sha...

Civil liberties and digital rights organisations have strongly criticised Lord Mandelson's Digital Economy Bill. Liberty said in a position paper on Tuesday that the bill, part of... More

Post a comment

Video icon

Video

Google Chrome

Roundup: Full coverage of Google Chrome

The search giant has launched a beta of its own open-source browser, sending a clear challenge to Microsoft in the way it lets users work with applications More

Blog: Google Chrome has Microsoft's code inside, says MS manager

And furthermore, he says, that's a good thing... More

Blog: Google Chrome — nine things we've found since launch

Google must be very happy with the coverage Chrome has gathered. But it's not all good news... More


Skip Sub Navigation Links to CNET Brand Links

Help

Become part of the ZDNet community.

Newsletters